Graduate Faculty

701-231-7190

Magdy Abdelrahman, Ph.D.
University of Illinois-Urbana, 1996
Research Interests:
Characterization of Modified Asphalt Binders and Mixes; Pavement Maintenance and Rehabilitation Techniques; Performance-Related Specifications for Pavement Materials; Quality Control and Quality Assurance in Pavement Construction
Department: Civil Engineering

Donald A. Andersen, EngD
Texas A&M University, 1982
Research Interests:
Transportation, Pavements, Traffic Engineering
Department: Civil Engineering

Canan Bilen-Green, Ph.D.
University of Wyoming, 1998
Research Interests:
Quality and Reliability Engineering, Design and Auditing of Quality and Productivity Monitoring Systems, Statistical Modeling and Applications, Applied Operations Research
Department: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

John Bitzan, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1997
Research Interests:
Transportation Economics
Department: Management, Marketing and Finance

Richard Gutkowski, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin, Madison,  1974
Research Interests: 
Structural  wood systems,  Bridge theory,  Computational mechanics,  Field testing of highway and railroad bridges, Experimental timber bridge systems,  Composite wood‑concrete systems,  Bridge guard rail modeling and testing,  Performance testing of roadway safety barriers, Composite repair of wood members
Department:  Colorado State University, Department of Civil Engineering

Robert Hearne, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 1995
Research Interests:
Natural Resource and Environmental Economics
Department: Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Siew Hoon Lim, Ph.D.
University of Georgia, 2005
Research Interests:
Production Economics, Transportation, Industrial OrganizationDepartment: Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Jill Hough, Ph.D.
University of California-Davis, 2007
Research Interests:
Public Transportation, Travel Behavior, Built Environment, Accessibility and Mobility of Seniors
Department: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

Joseph M. Jones, Ph.D.
University of Missouri, 1994
Field:
Marketing
Department: Management, Marketing, and Finance

Khaled Ksaibati, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1990
Research Interests:
Pavement maintenance and rehabilitation, Utilization of recycled materials in highway construction,
Asset management systems, Safety of rural roads
Department: Civil Engineering

Brian Kalk, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2007
Research Interests:
Energy Distribution, Urban Planning, Logistics Systems, Environmental Communications
Department: Criminal Justice and Political Science

Won Koo, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 1974
Research Interests:
International Trade
Department: Agribusiness and Applied Economics

David K. Lambert, Ph.D.
Oregon State University, 1985
Research Interests:
Production Economics, Natural Resources
Department: Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Brenda Lantz, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University, 2006
Research Interests:
Commercial vehicle safety systems and analysis, supply chain, intelligent transportation systems for commercial vehicle operations, and statistical modeling and diagnostics.
Department: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

Reza A. Maleki, Ph.D., PE, CMfgE
North Dakota State University, 1989
Research Interests:
Plant-wide Assessment, Manufacturing and Productivity Improvements, Rapid Product Development, Production Systems Design
Department: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Peter Martin, Ph.D.
University of Nottingham, England, 1992
Research Interests:
Intelligent Transportation Systems, Traffic Signals 
Department:  University of Utah,  Civil and Environmental Engineering

Peter O'Dour, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-Rolla, 2004
Research Interests:
GIS, Groundwater contamination, Remote sensing
Department: Geosciences

G. Padmanabhan, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1980
Research Interests:
Hydrology, Water Resources, Hydraulic Engineering
Department: Civil Engineering

Ayman Smadi, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 1994
Research Interests:
Transportation Systems, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Freight Planning
Department: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

Gary R. Smith, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1986
Research Interests:
Quality Control and Systems Applications, Decision Analysis and Modeling Techniques, Safety Performance Measurement and Improvements, Labor Productivity
Department: Deans Office, Engineering and Architecture

Joseph Szmerekovsky, Ph.D.
Case Western Reserve University/Weatherhead School of Management
Research Interests:
Project management and scheduling, Complex systems and flexible manufacturing and using linear and nonlinear dynamic and integer programming and network flows
Department: Management, Marketing and Finance

Denver D. Tolliver, Ph.D.
Virginia Polytechnic University, 1989
Research Interests:
Transportation Systems Planning, Freight Transportation, Economic Analysis
Department: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

Rodney D. Traub, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1994
Field: Operations Management
Department:
Management, Marketing, and Finance

Kim Vachal, Ph.D.
George Mason University, 2005
Research Interests:
Policy, Economics, Regional Development
Department: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

Amiy Varma, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1993
Research Interests:
Transportation Systems and Planning, Traffic Engineering, Airports, and Infrastructure Management
Department: Civil Engineering

Nadim Wehbe, Ph.D.
University of Nevada, Reno, 1997
Research Interests:
Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Structures, Bridge Engineering, Earthquake-Resistant Bridges,
Advanced Composites
Department:  South Dakota State University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

David L. Wells, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-Rolla, 1996
Research Interests:
International Studies in Manufacturing Technology, Strategic Management, Economic Development Strategies
Department: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

William W. Wilson, Ph.D.
University of Manitoba, 1980
Research Interests:
Commodity Marketing, Agribusiness, Industrial Organization
Department: Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Frank Yazdani, Ph.D., PE
University of New Mexico, 1987
Research Interests:
Structural Engineering/Mechanics, Constitutive Modeling of Materials, Damage Mechanics, Plasticity, Computational Plasticity, Finite Elements, Concrete and Masonry Materials
Department: Civil Engineering

Jun Zhang, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 2006
Research Interests:
Supply Chain Management, Models and Methodologies of Stochastic Optimization, Lean Manufacturing and Logistics, Healthcare Engineering, Scheduling Department: Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering

Program Description

North Dakota State University offers an interdisciplinary program leading to the Ph.D. degree in Transportation and Logistics (TL). The Transportation and Logistics program is a joint effort of the Colleges of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources; Business Administration; Engineering and Architecture; as well as the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. The following departments are participating in the program: Agribusiness and Applied Economics; Civil Engineering; Construction Management and Engineering; Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering; and Management, Marketing, and Finance.

The TL doctoral program allows students to develop advanced knowledge and research skills in the rapidly growing fields of transportation and logistics. The Ph.D. program consists of three main components: a core curriculum of 25 credits, an area of concentration, and a dissertation. After completing the interdisciplinary core curriculum, students may enter one of three areas of concentration: 1) Logistics and Supply Chain Systems, 2) Transportation Economics and Regulation, and 3) Transportation Infrastructure and Capacity Planning.

Admissions Requirements

The Transportation and Logistics Ph.D. program is open to qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing. To be admitted with full standing, the applicant must

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from an educational institution of recognized learning.
2. Have adequate preparation in one or more of the disciplines comprising Transportation and Logistics.
3. Have shown the potential to undertake advanced study and research as evidenced by prior academic performance.
4. Have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 or equivalent in all courses completed at the baccalaureate level. Students entering from a master's degree program must have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 or equivalent in their graduate program.
5. Have a stated interest in transportation and the capability to conduct transportation research.

Students who do not meet all requirements for admission or have deficiencies in prerequisite course work, but show satisfactory potential for graduate study, may be admitted conditionally. The conditional status may be changed to full graduate standing after the first or second semester of study, based on the student's academic performance.

The Transportation Infrastructure and Capacity Planning option is restricted to students with undergraduate degrees in Civil or Construction Engineering. A student wishing to pursue an area of concentration in Transportation Economics and Regulation must have completed intermediate-level microeconomics and taken at least one course in macroeconomics. In order to pursue an area of concentration in Logistics and Supply Chain Systems, a student must have earned a baccalaureate degree in Agribusiness, Business, Economics, Finance, Industrial Engineering, Management, Marketing, or a related field. All applicants must meet the general program prerequisites of at least one year of calculus, at least one course in statistics and economics, and an expressed interest in transportation.  Preference will be given to students with prior transportation coursework and relevant research experience.

Preferably, applications for admission should be submitted directly to The Graduate School before May 1 of the upcoming academic year. However, applications will be considered at any time they are submitted. The Graduate School must receive official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate records before the application is complete. Three letters of recommendation are required before action is taken on any application.

The TOEFL examination is required of international applicants. A minimum score of 550 (paper test) or 213 (computer test) must be achieved. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for all students without a master's degree from an institution of recognized learning and any student without a qualifying degree from an institution of recognized learning in the United States.

Financial Assistance

The number of assistantships varies from year to year, depending on grants and the number of students in residence. Applicants are considered on the basis of scholarship, academic performance, and financial need. The application to The Graduate School, including the three letters of reference and official transcripts, is required to be considered for an assistantship. International students must also submit a TOEFL score. Graduate tuition is waived for students with assistantships.

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. program requires the completion of a minimum of 90 credits of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Each student must develop a plan of study under the guidance of a faculty adviser and a supervisory committee. Twenty-five of the graduate credit hours must consist of core Transportation and Logistics courses or suitable substitutes. A minimum of 30 credit hours must consist of research-based dissertation credits. In addition, a minimum number of credit hours must be taken in the student's area of concentration, including quantitative methods courses related to the concentration. The remaining credits may be comprised of technical electives and additional dissertation credits.

Students must take a comprehensive/preliminary examination after the majority of the coursework has been completed.  The comprehensive exam includes written and oral components related to core transportation and quantitative concepts and to the student's area of concentration. The comprehensive exam also includes a dissertation prospectus examination in which the student must present and defend a plan for undertaking and completing a dissertation. After passing of the comprehensive exam and completion of the dissertation, the doctoral candidate must pass a final examination in which the completed dissertation is presented and defended.

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Courses Offered

AgEc 771 Economics of Transportation Systems 3
This course will provide an understanding of transportation economics and policy issues facing society. Topics include transport demand, modal costs, transportation competition and market power, transportation regulation, transportation investment, and the economics of transportation safety.

AgEc 772 Rural Logistics and Distribution Management 3
Logistical systems and concepts, distribution management, management of railroads and motor carriers, and location of facilities. Includes agribusiness and natural resource case studies.

Engr 770 Quantitative Modeling 3
Applications modeling and optimization methods. Domains: transportation, logistics, manufacturing, service systems scheduling, and supply-chain management. Decision models: linear programming and sensitivity analysis, transportation and assignment, network models and algorithms, and integer, dynamic and nonlinear programming.

Engr 771 Probabilistic and Deterministic Methods 3
Applications modeling. Domains include transportation, logistics, manufacturing, service systems scheduling, and supply-chain management. Quantitative models and tools include Markov chains, stochastic processes, queuing, deterministic and stochastic decision analysis, time series, forecasting, and regression modeling.

TL711 Logistics Systems 4
Covers foundation material critical to establishing effective supply chains in various decision making environments. Topics include inventory theory, forecasting, aggregate planning, quality management and project management. Decision making techniques include linear programming, process flow analysis, and simulation.

TL715 Enterprise Resource Planning 3
Covers material essential to the successful implementation of an ERP, addressing enterprise-wide functionality as well as required tactical functions such as project management and project planning, and provides an overview of implementation alternatives.

TL719 Crisis Analysis and Homeland Security 3
Provides an integrated approach to crisis response and management within the contexts of military logistics and homeland security. Focus is on problems of natural, technological, civil hazards, and disasters. The role of technology is emphasized and the National Incident Management System is utilized.

TL721 International Logistics Management 4
Offers a coherent perspective on contemporary global logistics from raw materials through production to the customer. Addresses the roles of governments and intermediaries, international sourcing, and the application of local trade laws. Discussion of economic, political, and social issues that may affect international transportation. 

TL723 Advanced Supply Chain Planning 3
Advanced flexible supply chains are examined by understanding both current capabilities and evolving needs of the enterprise, while the appropriate modifications to the supply chain can be identified. Expanded knowledge to include elements of both the internal and external supply chains and the interaction necessary between them. Develop the ability to distinguish which components of an enterprise supply chain are critical to the effective operation of that supply chain.

TL725 Technology Advances and Logistics 3
Addresses the new technologies that help shape advanced logistics and the advantages that such technologies have brought to the end users, suppliers, and a broad spectrum of related industries. Develop the understanding of requirements for effective integration of system and components for automated systems in support of logistics through the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) and other data capture technologies.

TL727 Organizational Change Management 3
An overview of change management as the process of making either incremental improvements or radical changes to an organization's operations for the purpose of enhancing both organizational and individual effectiveness. A multi-perspective systems p viewpoint is employed, stressing pragmatic implications for leadership.

TL729 Adaptive Planning in Logistics 3
Presents a systems view of organizations with a focus on how remote sensing technology enables sense and respond logistics. Military applications are emphasized at both the strategic and operational levels. Organizational structure, strategic alliances, quality, and programmed decision making will be addressed at the strategic level, while supply chain dynamics, inventory management, and the value of information transparency will be addressed at the operational level.

TL731 Logistics Research Methods 3
Covers key research concepts including: principles of scientific research; experimental, quasi-experimental, and observational studies; and continuous-dependent variable, discrete-choice, and network models. The focus is on applications and problem-solving in logistics and transportation.

TL733 Military Case Studies in Logistics 3
This course will consist of case analysis based on events from previous military operations. Focus on actual logistics cases along with solutions and how individual/organizational decisions relate to the ultimate outcome. Analyzing the processes which would have reduced or eliminated the supply chain's susceptibility to success or failure. Topics from courses within the military logistics curriculum are integrated into the cases and will provide a vehicle for the students to assimilate material from previous courses.

TL735 Acquisition Contracts: Law/Management 3
This course is designed to provide an overview of contracting procedures and regulations, to include developing and initiating proposals and properly identifying short and long term contract requirements. This course will provide the student the skills to fully utilize critical funding resources in a competitive environment.

TL 782 Transportation Systems I 3
Interdisciplinary concepts and models, including relationships among transportation, the economy, environment, and land use; freight transportation demand; logistics planning; railroad technology, capacity, and infrastructure; barge, pipeline, ports, and cargo-handling; highway and maritime transportation.

TL 783 Transportation Systems II 3
Railroad, highway and motor carrier transportation; highway capacity and finance, truck size and weight policies, and highway planning models.

TL 784 Intermodal Freight Transportation 3
Intermodal freight transportation modes. Container handling and logistics. Rail, highway, and ocean vessel equipment. Terminals and cargo-handling procedures. Landside and port issues. Documentation and liability. Intermodal information systems. Policy, regulatory, and financial issues.

TL 785 Spatial Analysis of Transportation Systems 4
Theories and models of spatial interaction between transportation and land use, including transportation and spatial organization of production and cities, networks and transportation costs, location theories, interaction and optimization models, GIS concepts and applications.

TL 786 Public Transportation 3
History and development of transit. Transit modes. Transit facilities. Services planning. Routing and scheduling. Demand forecasting. Intelligent Transportation Systems. Transit and urban land use. Rural transit systems. Intercity rail passenger service. Policy and management.

TL 788 Research in Transportation and Logistics 3
Strategic research issues in Transportation and Logistics. Foundations of research philosophies and methodologies. Research design, problem and objective statements. Research methods in Applied Economics, Supply Chain Management, and Transportation Infrastructure Planning. Interdisciplinary synthesis.

TL 790 Seminar (1-3)

TL 793 Individual Study (1-5)

TL 796 Special Topics (1-5)

TL 799 Dissertation (credits determined by advisory committee)

In addition to these courses, technical electives may be selected from graduate courses offered by participating departments, subject to the approval of the student's advisory committee. For a description of potential electives, see the graduate program descriptions for: Agribusiness & Applied Economics, Business Administration, Civil Engineering & Construction, and Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering.